Acetylene generator



Feb. 24, 1948. c. F. SMITH 2,436,674

ACETYLENE GENERATOR Filed Jan, 10, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 24, 1948. c. F. SMlTH ACET'YLENE- GENERATOR Filed Jan; 10, 1945 2 Sheet.s-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 24, 1 948 ACETYLENE GENERATOR Carl F. Smith, West Alexandria, Ohio, assignor to The Sight Feed Generator Company, West Alexandria, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 10, 1945, Serial No. 572,123

Claims. (01. 48-53) This invention relates to acetylene generators.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide an acetylene generator in which the feed of the carbide from the hopper is facilitated and made uniform by a highly effective and yet simple mechanism, and in which the discharge outlet from the hopper is positively controlled and maintained in a sealed condition to prevent accidental access of undesired moisture thereto.

It is also an object to provide such an acetylene generator having mechanism for regulating the supply of carbide in accordance with the pressure of the generated gas, and additional mechanism for agitating or vibrating the feed valve to facilitate the feeding action in which the agitating mechanism is positioned within the hopper and is interposed in the regulating mechanism, such mechanisms being protected from access of the carbide to assure maintaining of proper operating conditions and providing a highly reliable, eflicient and compact arrangement.

It is a further object to provide a construction of feed valve and cooperating valve seat which contribute to the maintaining of proper flow conditions during the feeding of the carbide in the form of particles of substantial size as compared with granular carbide, and which in addition provide for the substantially complete sealing of the hopper upon the closing action of the valve, even in the event of the valve closing upon its seat with a particle of carbide therebetween.

It is a still further object to provide such a generator in which a valve seat is provided for cooperation with the carbide feed valve, the valve seat being quite flexible and deformable such that it maintains an effective closed and sealed hopper outlet even when there is carbide present between the valve and its seat, and efiectively prevents passage of moisture upwardly into the carbide in the hopper where it might lead. to

dangerous and explosive conditions.

It is also an object to provide such an acetylene generator in which the vibrating mechanism for vibrating the feed valve provides for complete freedom of movement of the valve while maintaining the same at all times in correct and proper alignment to assure proper seating thereof upon its seat. 7

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view with certain parts being broken away showing an acetylene generator constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale showing the construction of the feed valve and its vibrating mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a view showing the gas pressure tank with the flash back arrestor and the connection for providing a pulsating pressure for the actuation of the vibrating mechanism; and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the valve seat for sealing the lower end of the hopper outlet.

Referring to the drawing which discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention, the main tank is shown at In having a flanged upper neck portion H', and containing a quantity of water into which the carbide is dropped to develop the acetylene gas. A discharge outlet pipe l3 leads from the interior of the tank through suitable check valve mechanism indicated generally as I4, and into the lower end of a liquid-trap flash back arrestor 15. This portion of the mechanism may be constructed as desired, reference being made to copending Patent No. 2,367,240 for a showing of apparatus suitable for this purpose.

The carbide receiving hopper is indicated at 20, and comprises a lower plate 2| which is removably bolted to the flange ll of the tank by means of a series of bolts 22. An upper plate 23 is provided, the plates carrying suitable flexible gaskets 24 against which there is seated the annular wall forming portion 25 which comprises the principal part of the hopper body.

The two end plates are held in tightly clamped relation against the body 25 by means of a series of rods 26, bolted respectively in end plates 2| and 23. In this way the plates are clamped tightly against the body 25 and a pressure and moisture tight hopper construction is thus provided. Preferably the body 25 is formed as a cylinder of transparent glass or like material, suitably reinforced as desired to enable it properly to withstand the pressures to which it is subjected during use. The hopper construction as thus described may be readily unbolted from the tank, to provide for cleaning when desired of both the hopper and the tank, suitable sealing relation being established by means of a gasket 21 carried on the lower face of plate 2|, and adapted to be compressed against the flange ll upon the assembly of the hopper into its operative position as shown. Normal filling of both the hopper and the tank are accomplished by removable filler plugs without requiring disas sembly. The enerator is adapted for use with carbide in the form of particles of larger size than granular carbide and of the size generally known as /4 by /iz.

Means are provided for regulating the pressure of the gas generated, and for this purpose the upper end plate 23 is formed with a raised rectangular shaped recess 30 which projects materially beyond the wall of the hopper, terminating in an outwardly extending flange 3|. The

member 33 which may be a flat diaphragm or preferably the expansible bellows as shown, has its open end tightly clamped against the lower face of this projecting member by means of a clamping ring 34 which is secured in place by means of a series of bolts 35., a flexible sealing.

gasket 36 being provided to maintain a sealed relation.

of ring 34. To the end wall- 450i case 44 there is positioned a thrust bearing 46. A thrust collar 41 secured to the tubular member 43 is adapted to engage the thrust bearing to transmit axial thrust thereto. The force with which spring 4| is compressed may be variedby means of the threaded adjusting wheel 48 accessible on the exterior of the casing 44- and providing for effecting axial movement of, the sleeve 43 in response to. manual adjusting movements, Preferably one side of the disk 42- projects through a slot in the wall of the case 44 as shown at 49, thus forming an index adapted to cooperate with a fixed scale on the wall of the case to indicate the pressure for which the indicator is set.

The diaphragm 33 is open to, the pressure of the generated gas through recess 30 and the interior. of the hopper, and will expand more or less in response-to that pressure and against the pressure established by the compression spring 4|. With a certain spring pressure as determined by the setting of screw 48-, the diaphragm will remain in a collapsed position until the gas pressure exceeds the pressure exerted by the spring, whereupon the diaphragm will expand, its end plate 40 moving downwardly in the relationship as shown in the drawing.

Manual shutoff means are also provided for positively closing the feed valve when desired, this means including the stem 50 fixed to the lower side of diaphragm 40,,having connection side thereof has pivotal connection as shown at.

53 with a hand lever 54 such that in the position shown in Fig. 1 the stem is drawn downwardly and held in locked position with the valve closed. As will be clear, in response to clockwise rotation of hand 54, the flat face 55 of the lever will engage the lower end of screw 48, thereby allowing rod 52 to move upwardly, and thus providing for the normal regulating action ofthemechanism to establish and maintain a desired operating pressure.

In order to transmit the movements of the diaphragm, the stem 60 is secured to the upper face of the diaphragm, and is connected to a link 61- by means of a yieldable connection 62, such connection being adapted to yield in case the normal movement of the feed valve is interrupted, to thus prevent damage. to the mechanism.

Link 6! is connected to feed lever 64, the latter being pivotally supported as shown at 65. The end of lever 64 carries a clevis 61 to which there is secured a feed rod 68 that extends downwardly into the interior of the hopper, for the purpose of providing proper actuation for the feed valve.

Not only is the feed valve moved in translation, and in agenerally'axial direction, as required to control the feed of, carbide irom the hopp r into the tank, but it is also desired to provide a vibrating motion, such vibrating motion being superimposedupon the regulating movement of the feed valve, facilitatin the proper feeding of the carbide and-avoiding. any tendency for it to pack around the outlet. This vibrating motion also takes placeinanaxial direction with respect to the feed valve, and the mechanism for effecting such vibrating movement is desirably interposed in the connections to the feed valve in such manner that it is carried inwardly of the hopper, and in position to provide for the desired vibratory movement with a minimum of operating mechanism and with substantially reduced weight and with theminimum number of operating parts.

For this'purpose the feed rod 68 extends downwardly into the hopper and has its lower end received: with a. tube- 10., being preferably secured thereto by brazing or welding. Tube 10 extends downwardly and to its lower end there is brazed a housing member 12 forming the upper housing for a vibrating or pulsating unit. Cooperating lower. housing member 13 is secured to member 12 by means of a series of bolts Hi, and a flexible diaphragm I5 isreceived between the two members in pressure sealed relation with respect thereto. A spring 16 is enclosed between the upper sideof the. diaphragm and the housing 12,. and. provides for normally flexing the diaphragm in onedirection, opposite that to-which it is moved under the application of the pulsating gas pressure. Such pressure application is effected by. meansof flexible tube 80 which is conne'cted. to fitting 8i carried by the upper-housing 12, the flexible tube. being attached to a nonvibrating metal tube, 83.by means of a connector 8.4. Tube 83 leadsoutwardly of the hopper, and has a slidable and connection 85 over which there is received a tube 81 supported at one sideof the opening in. the tank. The tube 8.1 in turn is connected with the discharge. outlet conduit i3 through connecting tube 88 which conveniently connects into the check valve fitting, so that itv thus constitutes a source of fluctuating pressure when the hopper is in assembled position upon, the tank. As will be understood, the gas on discharging through the flashback arrestor bubbles upwardly through the liquid in a series of. bubbles, thus resulting in producing continuous,. relatively small. pressure, variations. These pressure variations are transmitted through the connecting. tube system, as described above and made effective upon the upper side of the diaphragm 15 where they are sufiicient to provide for flexing. of the diaphragm against the action of spring 16. Also. aswill be understood, when the hopper. is removed. from the tank, the end of thetube is readily. disconnected from the coupling 86, without requiring separatev attention, and similarly upon reassembly this connection is also readily reestablished.

largedheadQZ which-is only slightly less in diameter than the internal dimensions of tube 10.

gra ers:

Thus it will be clear that while the entire diae'i phragm or pulsator unit assembly is raised and lowered in response to movements of the presdiaphragm, Thus rod 9I with its head 92 be ng. closely guided within the tube I9, prevents such flexing of the diaphragm as would result in misalignment, the diaphragm thus being constrained to move, fluctuate or vibrate uniformly in the direction of the axis of the rod, while being en-,

tirely free to move upwardly or downwardly as a unit in response to the regulating adjustments of; the mechanism.

A lower feed rod .95 is secured to the lower disk 99 by means of bolts 96, rod 95 passing through a short tube 91 which is held in place by means of nut 98, and around which there is received a wire screen 99 to prevent access of any particles of carbide into the diaphragm or its housing parts. lower end receives the main feed valve I99. As shown this valve is in the form of a cone shaped element and is secured in predetermined position upon the rod by means of nuts I9I. An upper feed valve I93 is also secured upon rod-95, the position thereon being determined by means of lock nuts I94. This upper feed valve isadapted to function to close the hopper outlet in response to abnormal loss of gas pressure, in the event that the regulating mechanism becomes fully collapsed, such as might be the case with a leak having occurred in the main tank. In this way the operation of the generator would be terminated and would prevent the undesired co tinuing generation of gas under such abnormal condition. I

The mechanism above described for controlling the movement of the feed valve is eifectively enclosed and protected against contact with the carbide so that it will function freely and without any interference as a result of such contact. For this purpose a plate H9 is fixed at the the internal diameter of which is sufficiently large to provide operating clearance for the movements of the feed rod 68 and the tube I9 in the manner above described.

The lower end of tube I I3 is received in housing member II5 which is enlarged sufiiciently to en-- close the vibrator or pulsator unit assembly leav-.

ing clearance around the periphery thereof so that the freedom of movement of the unit is not interfered with. Housing II5 has a cylindrical wall portion III; which is guided by and secured to a series of angularly shaped brackets III bolted into the lower plate 2I by means of a series of bolts II8. It will be understood that these arms III are spaced around the circumference, leaving passagesof adequate size therebe tween through which the carbide can feed downwardly from the hopper and thus the downward delivery of the carbide is not interfered with. I The bottom of the hopper is formed by a conical member I29 which may be suitably formed of sheet metal or the like and attached at its upper I It is apertured to, provide for the passage of the tube 83 there; zsfthis, protectorseryingrtheusual purpose of pre-1 end to the hopper plate 2I.

Feed rod 95 is threaded and at its,

\ 6'. through,- and a gasket ing such passage, v

At its-lower end-the hopper bottom I29 is provided with a laterallyturned over flange I29 5; to which there is=;bolted an outwardly flanged skirt ring I25 by means of a series of bolts I29. The skirtring is suitably grooved to provide for receiving a valve seat I28 so that when the skirt is bolted in place .on-flange I24, this valve seat member will be securely held in position. As shown valve seat I28 is relatively thick in cross section, and is annular in shape, the inner opening having a conical shape and being formed to provide in effect a continuation of the conical surface I29 of the hopper, the lower surface being substantially plane as shown.- This provides a lip portion I39 which extends radially inwardly of the adjacent edge ofthe hopper. The valve seat is formed of a flexible material such as rubber, neoprene, or the like, and is preferably relatively flexible such that-.i-t; can readily flex under the action of the valve'member I99 when it seats thereagainst. A suitable material for this purpose has been found to be a synthetic material identified as No.- 6135 neoprene, having a hardness on the Shore durometer of about 45.

;Valve I99 is located below the valve seat, and- -as will be clear from Fig. 1, when it is moved upwardly to closed position by the mechanism above described, its conical surface engages the lower flat side ofthe valve seat, causing a deflection of the lip portion, to thus bring about a sealing engagement over a substantial area of thevalvemember-which is effective to close the discharge outlet and prevent passage of even the seat having such flexibility and being drawn into sealing engagement over such an area that effective sealing of the outlet is maintained. This is particularly important in generators adapted for use-with the larger size particles of carbide, such as the size known as by experiments having shownthat the discharge outlet as described herein remains effectively closed and sealed up topressures of several pounds per square inch, thusafiording protection against access of-rnoistureinto the carbide which might result in dangerous operating conditions. That is, if moisture is allowed to pass into the carbidehopper,-a,reaction; will occur there where the heat can; not, be dissipated in a large body of water, and depending upon the pressure and the composition of the gas, the temperature may rise to the danger point where an explosion may occur. r

It will be understood that the valve is moved betweenits-openand closed positions under the action of the regulating mechanism as above described, and-that in operation when in open position it is givena vibrating movement in an axial direction which latter movement facilitates the passage of carbide, through the discharge opening. .-Also it will be clear that the valve is maintained in proper alignment at all times, and cannot be materially displaced relative to the valve seat, such alignment being held through the guiding action of the head 92 riding upon the interior-of tube ,19.

Preferably a-tubular tip protector I99 is secured to the lower end of the conical outlet I29 and is secured in place thereon by means of screws I iI,

-I2I is provided for seal-- assume venting access of liquid to the area immediately adjacent the discharge outlet. a

The invention therefore represents: an improved construction of acetylene generator providing for improved control and regulation. of:

the feed valve mechanism with that mechanismbeing simply and compactly arranged and such:

as to be readily removable with thehopper for facilitating recharging. The mechanism is easily reassembled for operation, and provides con trolled and regulating ieedingof the carbide while assuring the positive closing and sealing ofthehopper from further discharge and accidental access of moisture when-the pressure has reached eration of said feed valve to regulate the pres sure of the generated gas, vibrating means including a diaphragm located entirely withi-n said: hopper for producing a vibrating action ofsaid feed valve, means for supplying a. fluctuating pressure, to said vibratingmearrs for"actuation thereof, and guide means carried by saididia phragm and movable therewith for maintaining said valve in proper working relation with re spect to said seat.

2. In an acetylene generator, the combination. of a hopper for receiving a quantity oi" carbide, a feed valve for regulating the flow of carbide from said hopper, regulating means-locatedaout wardly of said hopper and-having a movable part extending thereinto for-controlling the operation of said feed valve to regulate the pressure ofthe generated gas, vibrating means including 9,. diaphragm within said hopper and movable with theregulating movements of said part for producing a vibrating action otsaidfeedvalve, means for" supplying a fluctuating pressureto said vibrating means for actuation thereof, and means directly connected with said diaphragm and-haw ing relatively movable guiding engagement with said movable part for: guidingthe-movements of said valve.

3. In an acetylene generator, the combination of a hopper for receiving-- aquantityof carbideand having a valve seat at the lower end thereof, a feed valve for regulating the flow of carbide from said hopper, regulating means inciud"-- ing a movable connection extending intosaid hopper for controlling "the operation of saidfeed valve to regulate the pressure of the generated gas, vibrating means including: a diaphragm carried by said movable connection and movable therewith for producing a vibrating action of said feed valve superimposed 'upon'the control ling movements thereof produced by said regu-- lating means, means for supplying-a fluctuating pressure to said vibrating meansthroughout:said

movements thereof for actuati'omor saidvibram ing means, a connectionbetweenone sideof said diaphragm andsaid feed valve, anda connectionbetween the other side of said diaphragmand a portion of said movableconnection for" guiding-1 the movements of'said valve tomaintain proper working'relationthereof with reference to said seat;

4; In an acetylene generator, the combination oi'a hopper for receiving a quantity of carbide,

a feed valve for regulating the flow of carbide from-said hopper, regulating means including a member movable in said hopper and connected to said feed valve to regulate the position thereofto maintain a predetermined pressure of the generatedgas, vibrating means supported by said member and movable therewith, said. vibrating means having a diaphragm, means for supporting saidfeedvalve directly from said diaphragm toimparta-vibratory action thereto superimposed on the regulating movements thereof, means for supplying, a fluctuating pressure toone side of said diaphragm throughout the movement thereof, and guide means supported directly on said diaphragmand movableth-erewith relative to said member for guidingsaid valve;

5; In-an acetylene generator, thecombinationof" a hopper for receiving a quantity of carbide,

a; feed valve for regulating the flow of carbidefromsaid-hopper, regulating means including a movable member extending into said hopper, meansresponsive-to the pressure of the generated gas'for controlling themovement' of said member; a diaphragm-supported by and movable with said' member internally of said hopper, means for-supplying afiuctuatin fluidpressure to said diaphragm to cause vibratory movement there-- of relative tosaid member, a connection from said diaphragm to said feed-valveto produce feed regulating and-vibratory movement'of the latter; and another connection from said diaphragm having interii tting engagement with a part of said regulatingmeans for guiding the movementsof said feed valve.

6. In an acetylene generator, the combination cf 'a hopper for receiving a-quantity of carbide,

a feed valve for regulating the flow of carbide" from saidhopper, regulating means including a movable member extending into said hopper,

: means responsive tothe pressure of the generated gas=for controlling the movement of said memher; a diaphragm supported by and movable with saidmember, means for supplying a fluctuating fluid pressure to sa-iddiaphragm to cause vibratory movement thereof relative to said member, a connection'from said'diaphragm to-said feedvalveto produce feedregulating and vibratory movement of the latter, means also'carried bysaid diaphragm and engageable with said memberfor guiding the movements of saidfeed valve,

and means protecting. said member and said diaphragm from contact with the contents of said hopper;

'7; In; an, acetylene; generator, the combination ,of; a hopper for receiving a quantity of, carbide,

arfeedvalve for regulating the/flow of carbide.

from said hopper, regulating means including a movable. member extending into said hopper,v means. responsive tnthepressure of thegenerated gas ior controlling the movement of said member, a diaphragm supported'by and movable with said'member, means for supplying a fluctuating, fluid pressure to said' diaphragm to cause vibratory movement thereof relative to said member, a connection'from one side of said diaphragm to said feed valve to produce feed regulating. and vibratory' movement' of the latter, means also car ried by said diaphragm on the other side. thereof and' 'engageable with said member inv overlappingguiding relation therewith in response to vibratory movement of said diaphragm for guiding the movements of said feed valve, and means for enclosing and preventing access of the carbide in said hopper to said member and said diaphragm.

8. In an acetylene generator, a hopper adapted to contain carbide, a feed valve for controlling the discharge of the carbide from said hopper, means responsive to the pressure of the generated gas, a feed rod connected to said responsive means and movable in accordance with the position thereof to regulate the operation of said feed valve, said feed rod extending downwardly into said hopper, a housing supported from said feed rod and movable therewith within said hopper, a flexible diaphragm in said housing, means supporting said feed valve from said diaphragm in position to be movable therewith in accordance with the regulating movements of said feed rod, means for supplying a pulsating fluid pressure to one side of said diaphragm to cause vibrating movement thereof and of said feed valve in addition to said regulating movements thereof, and guide means connected directly to said diaphragm and movable relative to said housing and said feed rod in guiding relation for maintaining proper working alignment of said feed valve.

9. In an acetylene generator, a hopper adapted to contain carbide, a feed valve for controlling the discharge of the carbide from said hopper, means responsive to the pressure of the generated gas, a feed rod connected to said responsive means and movable in accordance with the position thereof to regulate the operation of said feed valve, said feed rod extending downwardly into said hopper, a housing supported from said feed rod and movable therewith within said hopper, a flexible diaphragm in said housing supported substantially transverse with respect to said feed rod, means supporting said feed valve from said diaphragm in position to be movable therewith in an axial direction in accordance with regulating movements of said feed rod, means for supplying a pulsating fluid pressure to one side of said diaphragm to cause vibrating movement thereof and of said feed valve in addition to said regulating movement thereof, said feed rod being provided with a guiding surface, and a guiding member fixed to the side of said diaphragm opposite that to which said feed valve is connected and having guiding engagement with said guiding surface providing for maintaining said feed valve in proper alignment throughout the range of its movements.

10. In an acetylene generator, a hopper adapted to contain carbide, a feed valve for controlling the discharge of the carbide from said hopper, means responsive to the pressure of the generated gas, a feed rod connected to said responsive means and movable in accordance with the position thereof to regulate the operation of said feed valve, said feed rod extending downwardly into said hopper, a housing supported from said feed rod and movable therewith within said hopper, a flexible diaphragm in said housing supported substantially transverse with respect to said feed rod, means supporting said feed valve from said diaphragm in position to be movable therewith in an axial direction in accordance with regulating movements of said feed rod, means for supplying a pulsating fluid pressure to one side of said diaphragm to cause vibrating movement thereof and of said feed valve in addition to said regulating movement thereof, said feed rod being provided with a guiding surface, a guiding member fixed to the side of said diaphragm opposite that to which said feed valve is connected and having guiding engagement with said guiding surface providing for maintaining said feed valve in proper alignment throughout the range of its movements, and cover means for completely enclosing said feed rod and. said housing providing for free movement thereof and preventing contact of the carbide in said hopper therewith.

CARL F. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 713,640 Homan NOV. 13, 1902 1,033,863 Beck Jul 30, 1912 1,727,981 Irwin Sept. 10, 1929 2,008,321 Fausek et a1 July 23, 1935 2,367,240 Smith Jan, 16, 1945 

